Narrowing attachment for full fashioned hosiery knitting machines



Jan. 12, 1960 Filed June 7, 1957 C. B. PHILLIPS ETAL NARROWINGATTACHMENT FOR FULL FASHIONED HOSIERY KNITTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet l74 17s 178 I8! I50 12; 205 7;, I85 /75 CLAUD 5. PHILLIPS CLEO 5.PHILLIPS J JAMES B. PHILLIPS INVENTORS 1 I I I BY I I I ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 12, 1960 c. B. PHILLIPS ETAL 2,920,466

NARROWING ATTACHMENT FOR FULL FASHIONED HOSIERY KNITTING MACHINES FiledJune7, 1957 5 sheets-sheet 2 35 I. I I 4 BY l v I A a [EL-1% F70. 4ATTORNEYS.

C. B. PHILLIPS ETAL NARROWING ATTACHMENT FOR FULL FASHIONED Jan. 12,1960 2,920,466 HOSIERY KNITTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 7,1957 F/GG ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 12, 1960 c. B. PHILLIPS ETAL 2,920,466 NARROWING ATTACHMENT FORFULL FASHIONED HOSIERY KNITTING MACHINES I Filed June 7, 1957 5Sheets-Sheet 4 mag $8; /8

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"11-400 5. PHILLIPS also a. PHILLIPS JAMES a. P/l/LL/PS ATTORNEYS FiledJune 7, 1957 Jan. 12, 1960 c. B. PHILLIPS ETAL 2,920,466 NARROWINGATTACHMENT FOR FULL FASHIONED I HOSIERY KNITTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet5 c4400 5. /mups CLEO 5- PH/LL/PS JAMES a. P/l/LL/PS INVENTORS 7 5 1/ IA BY I 1 I A ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2,920,466 NARROWINGA'ITACHMENT FOR FASH- IONED HOSIERY KNITTING MACHINES Claud B. Phillips,Cleo B. Phillips, and James B. Phillips, Burlington, N.C.

Application June 7, 1957, Serial No. 664,293 15 Claims. 01. 66-89) Thisinvention relates to an attachment for knitting machines, and moreparticularly to a narrowing attachment for full fashioned hosieryknitting machines.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an attachmentwhich may be readily applied to a conventional full fashioned hosieryknitting machine which will automatically rotate the narrowing shaft andits associated worms to adjust the position of the narrowing pointsautomatically, without the necessity of stopping the machine, or manualmanipulation by the operator of the machine.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such anautomatic attachment which is controlled by the selected positioning ofbuttons on a pattern chain, in a manner similar to the control ofassociated conventional elements of the knitting machine.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of an attachmentof this character which ptovides a supplemental dog for rotating thenarrowing shaft by means of its associated narrowing gears apredetermined number of spaces, which number may be predetermined andpreset, in accordance with the character of the hosiery being knitted.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of means actuableeither sequentially or simultaneously with the actuation of the meansfor rotating the narrowing shaft for precluding corresponding rotationof the carrier shaft, which would be undersirable under the operatingconditions of the attachment.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such means forrotating the narrowing shaft which. are electrically actuated, as bymeans of suitably posi-' tioned solenoids, automatically energized in apredetermined sequence of operation, in accordance with the positioningof buttons on an auxiliary chain associated with the knitting machine.

A further and more specific object of the invention is the provision ofmeans whereby the number of teeth on the narrowing gear to be moved maybe preselected within a range of, illustratively, one to four, also inaccordance with the pattern and design of the hosiery being knitted.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a machinewhich is automatically actuated in accordance with the position of a camcarried by the main drive shaft of the knitting machine, the actuatingelements of the attachment being shiftable into and out of position tobe operated by the cam automatically.

A still further specific object of the invention is the provision ofmechanical means associated with the carrier shaft, and comprising asolenoid operated cain which may be moved into and outof engagement witha carrier shaft rotating dog, the latter comprising a conventionalelement of the knitting machine, in accordance with the relativeposition of the narrowing shaft actuating means.

A further specific object of the invention is the provision of means forrotating the narrowing shaft in either direction automatically,-operable by separate solenoids selectively operated in turn by buttonson an auxiliary chain. A more specific object of the invention residesin the provision of a pivoted arm associated with the knitting machine,which carries an actuating dog pivoted adjacent an end thereof, the dogbeing engageable with one of the teeth of a selected narrowing ratchetgear on the narrowing shaft, and the arm being adjustable to rotate theshaft a selected number of teeth by means of a stop screw carried by anattachment to the frame head.

As conductive to a clearer understanding of this invention, it may herebe pointed out that in full fashioned knitting machines for hosiery, as,for example, machines of the Reading type, the automatic narrowing ofthe hosiery as it is knitted downwardly is an inherent characteristic ofthe machine, but this is effective only for the rotation of thenarrowing shaft by one tooth of the narrowing shaft actuating ratchetgear. The selection of the number of courses knitted between suchnarrowing steps is effected by the selected position of buttons on apattern chain or on an auxiliary chain. Such movement has, heretofore,been limited-to one ratchet gear tooth, and under normal operatingconditions this has been adequate. However in various stages of theknitting of a full fashioned stocking for example as when initating thestep of knitting the heel reinforcement, it has been necessary to stopthe machine and rotate the narrowing shaft as by means of a manuallyactuated crank, to move the narrowing worms to a sufficient extent toinitiate the knitting of the heel portion. This has been, of necessity,a relatively costly and time and labor consuming operation, resulting ina material slowing of production, when estimated in volume.

A very important object of the invention is, therefore, the provision ofan automatic attachment which" maybe applied to any conventionalknitting machine of this character which will obviate the necessity ofsuch stopping of the machine, and the necessity for manual adjustment ofthe narrowing shaft by an operator, effecting a material saving of timeand consequent increase in production for a given machine.

Applicant is aware that various means have been provided foraccomplishing the automatic adjustment of the narrowing points invarious complex assemblies, but heretofore such means have either beenintegral com ponents of complete machines, or have been so complex andcostly, frequently requiring the provision of a new head for themachine, as to be impractical of application to existing machines. Sincethe life of a full fashioned hosiery knitting machine is materiallylong, and since the replacement of such machines by new machines is anextremely costly proceeding, the provision of an attachment for theprovision of the feature of automatic narrowing which may be readilyapplied to an existing machine, with a minimum of expense anddifficulty, provides an important advance in the art. A major object ofthis invention is therefore the provision of such an attachment. By theuse of this attachment, a single operator may expeditiously operate twolarge size machines, where, heretofore an individual operator has beenre-' quired for each machine, due to the necessity of periodicallystopping the machine and adjusting the narrow ing shaft. The instantinvention obviates the necessity for such proceeding.

Still other objects of the invention reside in the arrangements ofparts, combinations of elements, and features of construction, all aswill be more fully pointed out hereinafter, and disclosed in theaccompanying drawings which show preferred embodiments of thisinvention, as applied to a standard Reading type knitting] machine.

Still a further object of this invention is the provision of anattachment of this character which is sturdy, reli- 7 3 able andefficient in operation, easily adjusted, completely automatic, andrelatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, assemble and install.

Still other objects will in part be obvious, and in part be pointed outhereinafter, and shown in the accompanying drawings wherein: A Figure 1is an end elevational view of a standard Reading type full fashionknitting machine, showing one form of attachment embodying features ofthis inventive concept applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 ofFigure 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of certain operative elements comprisingfeatures of the instant invention as viewed from the rear of theportions of the mechanism disclosed in Figure 1, or taken substantiallyalong the line 33 of Figure 2 as viewed in the direction indicated bythe arrows.

Figure 3a is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3a-3aof Figure 3.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 ofFigure 3 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 ofFigure 3 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 ofFigure 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of certain portions ofthe mechanism, as viewed from the left in Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along theline 8-8 of Figure 7 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary detail view disclosing certain concealedportions of the mechanism as shown in Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 10-10of Figure 7 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a constructionaldetail as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 12 is a schematic wiring diagram showing certain of the operativeconnections of the assembly of Figure 1.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the knitting machineof Figure 1 showing a modified form of the attachment of the instantinvention as applied thereto.

Figure 14 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 14-14 of Figure 13 as viewed in the direction indicatedby the arrows.

Figure 15 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed view, partially inelevation and partially in section, showing an adjusting arrangement ofone of the constructional elements as shown in Figure 13.

Figure 16 is a schematic wiring diagram of the assembly as shown inFigure 13.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, and more particularly toFigure 1, there is generally indicated at 20 an end elevational view ofa standard Reading type full fashion hosiery knitting machine, showingone form of the attachment of the instant invention as applied thereto.The machine includes a main frame head generally indicated at 21including a base and support portion 22, and a main drive shaft 23. Themachine is also provided with a movable lift arm 33 and a lift fork 26,which is adapted in conventional manner to actuate a plurality ofoperating dogs or pawls, when raised by one of a spaced pair of cams 27and 28 carried 12y main drive shaft 23. The cams 27 and 28 are acaoaee ladapted to act upon a roller 30, which is mounted on a shaft or axle 31extending transversely across an aperture 32 centrally positioned inlift arm 33. The arm 33 is pivotally mounted on a pivot 34 suitablymounted in journals appropriately positioned in the frame of theknitting machine 20, and is connected at its free end to the lift fork26, the connection taking the form of a slot 35 adjacent the free end oflift arm 33, and a pin 36 carried at the lower end of lift fork 26. Astop 24 is provided for the free end of lift arm 33. A hook 37 is formedat the outer extremity of lift arm 33, and has connected thereto acoiled spring 38, which normally biases the lift arm 33 and itsassociated roller 30 downwardly relative to main drive shaft 23. Theabove described mechanism is all inherent in the standard knittingmachine, and the roller 30 is, under normal operating conditions adaptedto ride between the cams 27 and 28. The main drive shaft 23 may belongitudinally shifted under standard operating procedure to positioncam 28 beneath roller 30, which occasions lifting of the lift arm 33,and its associated lift fork 26 in a procedure incident to the normaloperation of the apparatus, and comprising no part of the instantinvention. The roller 30 may also be shifted by means of an automaticback fork 40, which is pivotally mounted as on a pivot 41 suitablyaffixed to main frame head 21, and which has at its free end a clevice42 to slide roller 30 along axle 31 into superposed relation with cam27. The shifting of the back fork is effected automatically through anoperating rod 43 in conventional manner, as by operation of the mainpattern chain. This shifting of the roller 30 into engagement with thecam 27 effects other normal operations of the knitting machine, and sofar as above described comprises no portion of the instant invention.

Referring back now to Figure 1, when lift fork 26 is raised, dog or pawlwhich in the drawing is shown out of engagement with a ratchet gear 51fixed to carrier shaft 52, serves to move the ratchet gear 51 to rotatethe carrier shaft 52, to actuate mechanism in accordance with the normaloperating procedure of the knitting machine. The raising of the lifthook also occasions the movement of a dog arm or pawl 53 pivoted as at53a to a suitable point on main frame head 21, which is mounted on thenarrowing shaft 54, and which upon a one tooth movement effects rotationof the narrowing shaft to correspondingly rotate narrowing worms 55,which are oppositely disposed relative to each other, in theconventional manner, and carried by suitable supports 56 mounted ontransverse supporting bars 56a, also comprising normal components of themachine, and is best shown in Figure 6. The end of narrowing shaft 54extending outwardly beyond main frame head 21 carries a pair ofoperating gears, having ratchet teeth thereon, the outside gear 57 beingacted upon by the dog or pawl 53. Between gears 57 and 58 there ispositioned a locking gear 59, while outside of the gear 57 there iscarried a knockout cam 60. On the normal operation of the device, whilethe narrowing shaft 54 is raised, the dog 53 will actuate the teeth ofratchet gear 57 to provide rotation of the narrowing shaft 54 throughone tooth of the ratchet gear 57 in counter clockwise direction. As thelift fork 26 is lowered a second dog arm 61, which is carried on apivotal mounting 62 in a pin and slot connection with fork 26 islowered, and engages the oppositely disposed ratchet teeth of ratchetgear 57, to turn narrowing shaft 54 in counter clockwise directron for adistance equivalent to the normal path of travel of one tooth. At thistime the knockout cam 6t) moves the dog arm 53 out of engagement withits associated ratchet gear 57, and permits rotation of the shaft incounter clockwise direction. All of these operations are conventional,and effected by the normal operation of the lift fork 26. A pawl 70,engagm the teeth of ratchet gear 59, in a ratcheting arrangement, andserves as a stop pawl, being held in engaged relation with the ratchet Vgear 59 by means of a compression spring 71 carried by a fitting 72,which contains interiorly, as best shown in Figure 6, a pin 73. The pin73 may be released by movement of a conventional operating handle 74, topermit rotation of the narrowing shaft 54 manually as by means of acrank (not shown) which, in the absence of the automatic attachment ofthe instant invention, is provided to permit manual rotation of theworms 55. The compression of spring 71 is sufficiently slighthowever topermit the narrowing shaft 54 to be rotated automatically, in a mannerto be described more fully hereinafter, without the necessity ofactuating the handle 74.

As best shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9 the knitting machine is providedwith an auxiliary chain, 80, of conventional design, which haspositioned thereon,1at suitably selected intervals and in suitablytransversely spaced alignment a selected number of operating buttons,for the purpose of actuating component mechanism of the knittingmachine. The auxiliary chain 80 is mounted on an axle 82, which carriesa drive sprocket 83, and travels about an idler sprocket 84 mounted onan axle 85. Means are provided for selectively energizing anddeenergizing auxiliary chain 80, by means of a button on the main chain(not shown) of the knitting machine, which means serve to rotate, in aknown manner, an eccentric 86 mounted on a stub axle 87. The eccentricin turn engages a roller 88, mounted on a lever 89 which is pivoted, asat 90 to the supporting bracket 91 which carries axle 82. The lever 89carries at one end a dog 92, adapted to engage ratchet gear 93, in suchmanner that when the eccentric 86 is in the position shown in Figure 9the rotation of shaft 82, and hence auxiliary chain 80 is permitted.When in this position the engagement of the cam or eccentric 86 withroller 88 holds the dog 92 out of its engagement with its associatedratchet gear 93, and the auxiliary chain 80 may be rotated in anydesired manner.

When the cam 86 is rotated out of its engagement with roller 88 thelever 89 is biased downwardly by means of the spring 94 connectedbetween the end of lever 89 and a suitable projection 95 carried bybracket 91, to engage the teeth of ratchet gear 93, thus stopping therotation of the auxiliary chain.

Upwardly extending members 96 forming portions of supporting bracket 91have a pivot shaft 97 extending transversely across their upper ends,upon Which shaft are mounted a plurality of operating. arms 98, whicharms are normally biased as by means of springs 99 connected betweentheir lower ends and bracket 91 to inoperative position. However when aselected button 81 carried by auxiliary chain 80 engages an alignedactuating member 100 an associated projecting member 101 is movedoutwardly to move the associated operating arm 98 into operativeposition.

All of the matter herein before described, with the exception of thearms 98, and their associated springs 99 has been of conventionaldesign, the arms 98 being adapted, when actuated by the buttons 81 toclose the operating arm 102 of a selected one of a number of microswitches 103, which are suitably mounted on a supporting bar 104, thelatter comprising an integral part of the frame of the knitting machine20, to close a selected circuit for a purpose to be more fully describedhereinafter.

The automatic narrowing attachment of the instant invention includes anarm 1 10, which is pivotally mounted on a stub shaft or axle 111 securedto the inner side of the main frame head 21. The arm 110 carries,adjacent an angular bend 112 therein, a stub axle 113, upon which ismounted a roller 114, normally disposed immediately above the main driveshaft 23, and spaced therefrom a distance sufiicient to permit the wheelor roller 30 to be passed between the cam 27 and the roller 114 when thelow side of the cam is adjacent the roller 30. When in this position ofadjustment, as best shown '6 in Figure 4, it being used that normallythe roller is positioned in the space between cams 27 and 28, beingbiasedv to this position by means of a spring the action of cam 27 will,upon affording lift to roller 30 correspondingly through roller 114 inpart lift to about its pivot .11. A suitable stop member or rest 116 isprovided to limit the downward .pivotal movement of arm 110 when theroller 114 is not engaged by the roller 30.

A supporting plate 120 is secured in any desired man'- ner as by boltsor rivets 121 to the edge of the 'inain frame head 21, and projectsoutwardly therefrom. The plate 120 has suitably secured thereto as bymeans of bolts 122 a pair of spaced lugs 123, which terminate in bosses124, having aligned centrally disposed bores 125, which serve asjournals for a rotatable shaft 126; Positioned between the bosses 124are locating cellars 127, which are secured fixedly to shaft 126 as bymeans of set screws 1'28. 7 I

The inner end of shaft 126 engages in a central bore 129 in a collar130, to the end of which is secured a lever or arm 131. The collar 1-30is clampingly engaged with shaft 126 as by means of set screws 132. Theendvof arm 131 extends over the free end of arm 110, and is providedwith a cross pin 133, which rests on the top surface of arm 110, in suchmanner that raising of the arm 110 in the manner previously de= scribed,will effect rotative action, through ar-m 131 of shaft 126 in thejournals provided by the bores 125.

The opposite end of shaft 126 seats in an internal bore 135 in a collar136 which is secured in position by set screws 1'37, and to the outerend of which is secured a lever or supplemental lift arm 138, which 6X?tends normally in parallelism with the arm 131, and is, through theshaft 126 lifted when the arm 110 is moved by cam 27 to lift the rollers30 and 114. The outer end of arm 138 is, as best shown in Figure 1,connected to a clevice 139, which carries a rod 140, which is in turnsecured at its upper end to a fork 141, between the legs of whichextends a pin 142 which is pivotally connected to an end of a link 143.The other end of link 143 is pivotally associated with a pin 144 whichis carried by a knockout cam 145 mounted on carrier shaft 52. By meansof this arrangement it will be seen that as the arm 138 is lifted in themanner previously described, the knockout cam 145 will be moved into aposition to engage the dog 50, moving the same out of its engagementwith the teeth of gear 51. This operation proceeds simultaneously withthe actuation of certain other elements of the mechanism which operateupon the narrowing shaft 54, in a manner to be more fully de scribedhereinafter, and preclude rotation of the carrier shaft 52simultaneously with such action on the narrowing shaft 54. I

Extending from thebosses 124 on the opposite sides of lugs 123 are lugs150, terminating in bosses 151 provided with bores 152, between whichextends 'a shaft 153, the shaft being fixed Within the bores 152'as bymeans of set screws 154. A collar 155 is rotatable on shaft 153, andaligned against lateral displacement by means of a clamping collar 156which is fixed against linear movement on shaft 153 by means of a setscrew 157. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) V

An L-shaped lift lever 160 is fixedly secured to collar 155 and extendstransversely therefrom across the width of main frame head21, andincludes a long leg 161, and an upwardly turned short leg 162. Themid-point of long leg 161 is adapted to rest in its lowermost positionof adjustment on a supporting boss 163, which comprises an integral partof the lift fork 26. A support or bar 164 is secured to the front ofmain frame head 21, and apertured to receive an adjusting screw 165whichjs held in position by means of a lock nut 166, the head of thescrew 165 engaging the underside of long leg 161 beneath the u wardlyextending short leg 162. Ob viously by adjustment of the adjusting screw165 the lowermost point to which the L-shaped lever may swing about itspivot shaft 153 may be readily governed, the purpose of which adjustmentwill be pointed out more fully hereinafter. A spring 167 is secured atone end of a pin 168 carried by the long leg 161 of L-shaped lever 160,and at its other end to a pin 169 secured to the base 22 of the frame ofthe knitting machine 20, the spring 167 normally serving to bias lever160 into engagement with adjusting screw 165 in its downmost position ofadjustment, which is to say when the lift fork 26 is in lowered positionas governed by the operating cams 27 or 28.

The upper portion of leg 162 is provided with a vertical slot 170, inwhich is adjustably mounted a stub axle 171, upon which is pivotallymounted an arm 172, which is provided with a tooth or dog 173, which isadapted under certain conditions to engage the teeth of gear 58 mountedon the narrowing shaft 54. The end of arm 172 extends a substantialdistance above narrowing shaft 54, and is fitted through a slidablefitting 175, which is mounted on a rod 176 which is threaded into asuitable threaded bore in the fitting 71. The upper end of arm 173 isprovided with an L-shaped fitting 177 secured thereto, which isconnected to an arm 178, which in turn is pivotally connected as bymeans of a pivot 179 to a solenoid core 180. The solenoid core 180comprises a portion of a conventional solenoid 181, which includes acoil 182, which upon energization serves to retract core 180 to move arm172 into a position whereby its dog or tooth 173 engages the associatedgear 58 on the narrowing shaft 54. A spring 185 extends between theupper arm 177 in an interior portion of arm 178, and serves normally thepurpose of moving the solenoid core 180 to extended position in theabsence of energization of the solenoid coil 182, while a spring 186 isafiixed at one end 187 to a suitable projection carried by the mainframe head 21, and at its other end is suitably connected as at 188 to asuitable point on the arm 172, and serves to move dog 173 normally outof engagement with the teeth of ratchet gear 58 unless the solenoid core182 is energized. The solenoid 181 is carried by a suitable bracket 189attached in any desired manner to the upper portion of the frame 20.

A second supporting bracket 190 has secured to a lower angle portionthereof a solenoid 191, including a coil 192 and a core 193, to the endof which is pivotally connected as by a pin 194 an arm 195. The arm 195is in turn secured as by a pin 196 to one end of a spring 197, the otherend of which is secured as by a pin 198 to the arm 53. The arrangementbeing such that when the solenoid coil 192 is energized and the core 193re tracted the arm 53 and its associated dog are moved out of engagementwith the ratchet gear 57, in order not to interfere with the functioningof the arm 172 and its associated dog or tooth 173. A spring 199 extendsbetween the lower portion of lever or arm 53, and is connected to asuitable fixed point 200 on the frame, normally biasing the arm 53 intoengagement with the teeth of gear 57.

The upper extremity of bracket 190 has secured thereto a third solenoidgenerally indicated at 201, which includes a coil 202 and a core 203,the latter being pivotally secured as by means of a pivot 204 to an arm205, which is connected as by means of a spring 206 to the upperextremity of the arm 207 which carries the dog 61. Upon energization ofcoil 202, core 203 is retracted to move the arm 207 so that its tooth ordog 61 engages the teeth of the ratchet gear 57. The upper portion ofthe arm 207 is engaged with a guide 208 which is carried on a rod 209which is threaded into a suitable threaded opening in the fitting 72,and is aligned with the guide rod 176. The arrangement of the spring 206is such as normally to hold the solenoid core 203 in extended position,while the arm 207 is normally disengaged from its associate ratchet gear57, by the normal operation of the knitting machine. The-solenoids areoperated in a manner previously described by the buttons on theauxiliary chain 81, and the connections effecting such operation arebest shown in Figure 12. A hot line 215 leads from any suitable sourceof electric power through branch lines 216, 217 and 218 to the microswitches 103, previously mentioned, which are designated, respectively,as 103a, 103b and 1030 in Figure 12. The opposite terminal of each microswitch is connected as by means of lines 129, 220 and 221 to solenoidcoils 192, 202 and 182 respectively, return lines being provided fromeach core to a common return or cold line 222. The arrangement istherefore such that when an actuating arm of a micro switch is closed byits associated operating lever 98, which levers are also respectivelydesignated as 98a, 98b and 98c in Figure 12, the associated solenoidcoil is energized, which effects a retraction of the associated solenoidcore.

It should here be pointed out that each end of the knitting machine isprovided with the attachment of the instant invention, the parts beingsubstantially identical,

that in reverse arrangement, and which parts are operated simultaneouslywith the solenoids previously described. These solenoids are designatedin Figure 12 respectively as solenoid 191a, 201a and 181a and theiractuation is effected simultaneously with the energization of coils 192,202 and 182, while the retraction of the cores 193a, 203a and 180aactuate the mechanism identical with that previously discussed.Connections 223, 224 and 225 extend respectively from micro switches103a, 103b and 103C for the simultaneous actuation of these additionalsolenoids, and a return line 226 connects with the return line 222.

From the foregoing the operation of this attachment should now bereadily understandable. Appropriate buttons are first set on the mainpattern chain to actuate the auxiliary chain in a conventional manner,in accordance with the particular type or design of hosiery to beknitted. Additional buttons 81 are then positioned on the auxiliarychain 80 for the desired purposes, including buttons for actuating thearms 98a, 98b and 980 at appropriate intervals. The set screw 165 isthen adjusted to limit the downward movement of L-shaped member 160, forthe number of notches through which it is desired to rotate carrierratchet gear 58, in order correspondingly to rotate worms 55, suitablyto vary the distance between the opposed pairs of conventional narrowingneedles associated with each knitting unit. After the other suitableoperating adjustments have been made and the machine started, when anappropriate button on the main chain is actuated to throw in cam 86 tooperate auxiliary chain 80, the roller 30 is appropriately shifted bymeans of back fork 40 into operating position over cam 27, or directlyunder roller 114. Thus when the lift arm 33 is raised to raise lift fork26, the arm is simultaneously raised which in turn pivots arms 131 and138, the latter through rod or lever serving to move knockout cam torender dog 50 inoperative. The next button 81 on chain 80 serves toenergize solenoid coil 192. This operation serves to kick out the arm 53and its associated dog, rendering it inoperative as the lift fork 26moves downwardly, but simultaneously or immediately subsequently theenergization of solenoid coil 182 retracts core to move the am 172 intosuch position that the dog or tooth 173 engages with the teeth ofratchet gear 58, so that the downward movement of the assembly effectsrotation of narrowing shaft 54 to the requisite degree. When reverserotation of the narrowing shaft 54 is desired, in accordance with thepattern set up by the pattern chain and the auxiliary chain, thesolenoid coil 202 is energized, which through core 203 and lever 205serves to move the arm 207 and its associated dog or tooth 61 intoengagement with the gear 57 to effect opposite rotation of the shaft.When the particular requirement for such movement of the narrowing shafthas in: L

passed, the roller 30' is again shifted by the automatic actuation ofback fork 40 into inoperative position between the cams 27 and 28. 'Thecycle may then be repeated or a different cycle instigated by means ofvariation in positioning of the buttons 81 which are aligned with therespective arms 98a, 98b and 980.

It will thus be seen that a wide variety of desired patterns may beeffected, and that the narrowing heads may be completely automaticallyadjusted, by means of the solenoid controls previously described,without the necessity of stopping the machine, or manually rotating thenarrowing shaft 54, and that such automatic rotation of the narrowingshaft 54 may be effected without corresponding rotation of the carriershaft, which, When the normal one two operation of the narrowing shaftis disrupted, is undesirable. Obviously the adjustment of the screw 165will vary the downward movement of L-shaped member 160, to vary thenumber of teeth effected by downward movement of the dog or tooth 173,to any desired number from one to four.

The above described attachment is of particular utility in certaindesigns and patterns of hosiery, involving a relatively wide range ofmovement of the narrowing heads, but in many instances a lesser range ofmovement is sufficient for this purpose. Figures 13 to 16 inclusivedisclose a modified form of attachment which is simpler and lessexpensive to manufacture and assemble, but which is limited in its rangeof eifective movement of the narrowing shaft to two teeth.

The attachment shown in Figure 13 is adapted to be applied to anydesired type of knitting machine, but is illustrated as applied toexactly the same type disclosed in the foregoing modification, and likereference characters is applied to the knitting machine per se appliedto corresponding parts as previously described. In this modification theL-shaped arm 160, and the plate 120 and its associated elementsincluding the interiorly positioned arm 110 operable by cam 27 areentirely eliminated, and portions of their functions taken over by otherapparatus.

In this modification the rotation of the carrier shaft 54 is normallyeffected manually, by means of a suitable crank, which, in the drawinghas been eliminated for the sake of clarity, and the step by stepactuation thereof in the normal operation of the machine is elfected bythe dog arm 50 engaging a suitable ratchet gear 51. When it is desiredto eliminate this manual operation, the dog 50 is adapted to be held outof engagement with the teeth of ratchet gear 51 by means of a knockoutcam 230 substantially identical to the knockout cam 145 previouslydescribed. In this instance however a pin 230a is threaded into a holein 230 on the opposite side of the high surface of the cam from thepreviously described pin 144, the cam being preferably formed with twothreaded holes, to accommodate either pin as required. The pin 230 isengaged by an arm 231, which is connected to a solenoid core 232retractable into a core 233 of a conventional solenoid generallyindicated at 244. The solenoid 244 is mounted on a suitable bracket 245secured as by means of bolts 246 to a suitable projecting portion 247 ofone of the angle irons comprising a normal portion of the frame. Thesolenoid 244 is provided with an extending wire arm 248, which extendsoutwardly beyond the normal extension of the core 232, and which has anupwardly turned extremity 249, to which a spring 250 is connected, theopposite end of the spring being connected to the outer end of solenoidcore 232, for effecting normal extension of the same after retraction byenergization of the coil 233. This energization of the core 233 iseffected by an appropriate button 81 on auxiliary chain 80, throughsuitable arms 96 in the same manner as that described in connection withthe foregoing modification, and as previously stated serves to hold thedog 50 out of engagement with the teeth of 10 v 207, which is pivoted asat 62, in the same manner as previously described, and which serves thesame purpose. In this modification no solenoid control for the arm 2 07isnecessary, in that its operation is controlled by the normal liftingand lowering of lift fork 26, and since the shaft is only rotatedthrough two notches, it is not necessary to maintain the dog arm 61 outof engagement with the teeth 57 for the protracted period of timerequired with the previously mentioned apparatus. In this form of thedevice the stub axle corresponding to the pivot or axle 53a, andindicated at 251 is modified by extending the same, and carries, inaddition to the arm 53 a supplemental dog arm 252, which is rotatablymounted on an eccentric 253, which may be clamped by means of a setscrew 254, to effect various slight modification of the relativeposition of the tooth 255 carried by the arm 252. This adjustment isdesirable for slight modification of the distance between the tooth 252and the dog, here indicated at 53b carried by the dog arm 53, in orderthat when the engagement of the opposed dogs or teeth is reversed, in amanner to be more fully described hereinafter, the engaging dog willstrike a tooth adjacent its abutting face, and not in an intermediateportion of the tooth, which would result in an unequal spacing of theyarn, due to unequal turning of the narrowing shaft 54. The dog arm 53has affixed thereto an extension 255, which extends into proximity withthe face of a disk 256, which is rotatably mounted on a pin 257 carriedby an extending bar 258 which is secured as by bolts 259 to an invertedL-shaped support 260. The other leg of support 260 is secured as bymeans of a bolt 261 into a suitable hole tapped into the fitting 252,and at a location corresponding to the hole tapped to receive the rod176 of the previous modification. The upper end of lever 252 extendsupwardly, as indicated at 262 to a position also adjacent disk 256 buton the opposite side thereof. The upper ends 255 and 262 are bent, asindicated at 263 and 264 respectively angularly in the same direction,but in differing degree, in such manner as to space these ends apartadjacent the disk 256. A pin 265 extends from the frontface of disk 256forwardly to engage behind the lever 255, while a second pin 266 extendsfrom the opposite face of the disk to engage the end 262.

A lever 267 is pivotally secured to the rear face of disk 256, on pin266, and connected at its other end, as by a' pin 268 to a solenoid core269. The core 269 comprises an element of a solenoid generally indicatedat 270, which includes a core 271, and which is suitably secured as bybolts 272 to an upwardly extending bracket 273, which in turn is boltedor riveted as shown at 274 to an upwardly projecting portion 275 of theend plate 21.

A spring 276 is connected between pin 266 in disc 256 and a verticalprojection 277 at the end of support 253.

In the normal operation of the device, the dog arm 53 and its associateddog 53b is engaged with the teeth of gear 57, being held in suchposition by means of a spring 278, which comprises a part of the normaloperating mechanism of the knitting machine, with the pin 265 restingagainst the inner edge of the extending portion 255, it being noted thatspring 276 serves to urge the solenoid core 269 to its extendedposition. When the solenoid coil 271 is energized to retract the core269 the disk 256 is rotated, so that the extending arm portion 255 isrotated outwardly to move the dog 53b out of engagement with the teethof the gear 57. Simultaneously the pin 266 moves the arm 262 inwardly toengage the dog tooth 252 with the gear, so that downward motion of liftfork 26 will effect the rotation of the narrowing shaft 54 and itsassociated worms 55 through the path of movement of two notches of thegear 58.

Figure 16 discloses ,a wiring diagram showing the circuit connectionswith the solenoids 244 and 270, the

connections being substantially identical with those disclosed inconnection with the foregoing modification, with the exception that onlytwo solenoids need be employed. In this construction a hot line 280extends through suitable take offs 281 and 282 to micro switches heredesignated as 103d and 1032. From the other terminals of these microswitches leads 283 and 284 extend respectively to solenoid coil 233 and271, from which a return line 285 extends back to the source of powerfrom which the hot line 280 extends. Additional feeder lines 286 and 287lead from the terminals of micro switches 163d and 193%? respectively tosolenoids 244a and 270a, which are affixed to the opposite end of themachine, and operate mechanism identical with that disclosed inconnection With solenoids 244 and 270. A return line 283 communicateswith the cold or return line 285.

The operation of this form of the invention is substantially identical,in so far as it effects the movement of narrowing shaft 54 with that ofthe preceding modification. in this arrangement the solenoid 233 takesthe place of the mechanically actuated rod 140 and its associated arm138, for the purpose of moving knockout cam 25% in the same manner withthe respect to dog arm 50 as the previously discussed knockout cam 145.

Similarly in this modification the single solenoid 270 with its actionon dog arms 252 and 53 serves the same purpose as the solenoids 191 and181 in their respective actions on dog arms 53 and 172. The normalmovement of lift 2:; is suificient to move the dog tooth 252 asufficient distance to move the ratchet gear 58 two notches, and hencethe necessity for the L-shaped arm 160, and its associated elements iseliminated in this construction. However the basic theory of operation,and the means for effecting this operation in so far as the automaticrotation of narrowing shaft 54 is concerned remain the same in bothinstances.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided animproved attachment for the automatic narrowing adjustment of fullfashion hosiery knitting machines which accomplishes all of the objectsof this invention, and others, including many advantage of greatpractical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as manymodifications may be made in the embodiments hereinbefore set forth anddescribed, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to beinterpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. An attachment for the automatic adjustment of the position of thenarrowing points of a full fashioned hosiery knitting machine comprisinga frame having a main frame head, a carrier shaft and a narrowing shaftjournalled in said main frame head, opposed ratchet gears on the end ofsaid narrowing shaft, a ratchet gear on the end of said carrier shaft, amain drive shaft carried by said frame, cam means on the main driveshaft, a lift arm movable by the cam means and a lift fork movable bysaid lift arm, first and second dog arms pivotally mounted on said liftfork, each selectively engageable with one of the gears on saidnarrowing shaft, a third dog ann pivoted on said lift fork selectivelyengageable with said gear on said carrier shaft, and means for rotatingsaid cam automatically to raise and lower said lift fork for theselective engagement of said dog arms with their associated ratchetgears, and means including an auxiliary chain having buttons selectivelyplaced thereon for controlling the operation of said knitting machine,said atachment comprising means controllable by a button on saidauxiliary chain for disengaging said third dog arm from its associatedratchet gear on said carrier shaft, a supplemental dog arm engageablewith one of said opposed ratchet gears on said narrowing shaft andhaving a longer stroke than the dog arm associated with the same ratchetgear, means controlled by a button on said auxiliary chain for engagingsaid supplemental dog arm with said one of said ratchet gears andsimultaneously disengaging said first and second dog arms from theirassociated ratchet gears on said narrowing shaft.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said attachment includes asupplemental lift arm pivotally mounted on said main frame head andmovable by said first mentioned lift arm, a support secured to said mainframe head, a shaft journalled on said support, said supplemental liftarm being connected to said shaft, a second arm rotatable by said shaft,a knockout cam on said carrier shaft, and a connection between the endof said last mentioned shaft and said knockout cam, said cam beingmovable to disengage said third dog arm from its associated ratchet gearon said carrier shaft.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said support is provided withadditional journals, a pivot shaft rotatable in said journals, anL-shaped lever having a long arm and a short arm fixedly secured to saidpivot shaft and extending transversely across said end plate, andwherein said lift fork is provided with a projection en-. gaging theunderside of the long arm of said L-shaped lever to raise the same whensaid lift fork is raised, and a pivotal connection between the upper endof the short leg of said L-shaped arm and said supplemental dog arm.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein a tension spring is secured at oneend to the long arm of said L-shaped lever and at its other end to alower portion of said frame urging said L-shaped arm into contact withsaid projection on said lift fork.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein an adjusting screw extends upwardlyfrom a projecting portion of a main frame head, and engages theunderside of said L-shaped member at a point outwardly of the connectionof'said spring, relative to the pivot shaft, for limiting the downwardmovement of said L-shaped arm, and consequently adjusting the stroke ofsaid supplemental dog arm.

6. The structure of claim 2 wherein said first mentioned lift arm isprovided with a roller, and said supplemental lift arm is provided witha second roller, in alignment with said cam means on said drive shaft,and said knitting machine includes automatic mechanism for in terposingsaid first mentioned roller between said second roller and said cam forthe automatic lifting of said supplemental lift arm upon lifting of saidfirst mentioned lift arm.

7. The structure of claim 1 wherein solenoid means are provided formoving said supplemental dog arm into engagement with its associatedratchet gear, and additional solenoid means are provided for moving saidfirst and second dog arms simultaneously out of engagement with theirassociated ratchet gears.

8. The structure of claim 7 wherein the actuation of said solenoids iscontrolled by the selected position of buttons on said auxiliary chain.

9. The structure of claim 8 wherein said selected buttons are actuableto control levers, which in turn close micro switches carried by saidframe for the energization of said solenoid means.

10. The structure of claim 1 wherein automatically actuated mechanicalmeans are' provided, controlled by the selected position of a button onsaid main chain, for disengaging said third dog arm from its associatedgear on said carrier shaft.

11. The structure of claim 10 wherein the last mentioned means include aknockout cam rotatable on said carrier shaft, and a mechanical linkagefor moving said knockout cam into engagement with said third mentioneddog arm.

12. The structure of claim 1 wherein solenoid means are provided fordisengaging said third dog arm from 13 its associated ratchet gear inaccordance with the position of the selected button on said main chain.

13. The structure of claim 1 wherein said means for engaging saidsupplemental dog arm with its associated gear on said narrowing shaft,and disengaging the first arm associated with the same ratchet gear, aresimultaneously actuated by a single solenoid means.

14. The structure of claim 13 wherein said supplemental arm and firstdog arms are mounted on a single axle carried by said lift fork, andwherein their upper extremities diverge in juxtaposition to a disc, thedisc having a pair of opposed pins on its faces each engageable with theextending end of one of said arms, for the simultaneous movement of onearm towards its asso ciated ratchet gear and the other arm away from thesame ratchet gear, said disc being rotatable by said solenoid means.

15. The structure of claim 14 wherein one of said first or supplementaldog arms is mounted on an eccentric carried by said common axle, andwherein the dogs of said arms are oppositely disposed relative to theteeth of the associated ratchet gear, said eccentric being adjustable tovary the distance between said dogs for accurate engagement with theirassociated ratchet gear teeth.

Zesch Ian. 13, 1953 Lambach Jan. 19, 1954

